UM women blow 22-pt lead, withstand late Clemson rally, hang on for 68-64 win
For the second year in a row, the University of Miami women’s basketball team had to play Clemson without starting center Beatrice Mompremier. This time, the Hurricanes went home in a better mood after escaping a late-game Tigers rally to secure a 68-64 victory.
Clemson erased Miami’s 22-point third-quarter lead to tie it up 64-64 with just over a minute to go after back-to-back three-pointers by Kendall Spray. But Kelsey Marshall answered with a three to give UM the cushion it needed, and she led all scorers with a career-high 22 points.
“We did what we had to do to win,” said UM coach Katie Meier, who singled out Marshall for her leadership all night. “I will not apologize, don’t want anyone to ask what happened? We had a 22-point lead because we played really, really hard. We withstood a cold spell in the fourth quarter. Players made plays when they had to.”
Last year, Mompremier missed the loss against the Tigers due to the death of her father. Thursday night, the ACC Preseason Player of the Year sat out for the sixth consecutive game with an injured foot. Miami had lost four of five previous games in her absence after starting the season 9-3 and rising to No. 16 in the AP rankings.
The Canes took charge early and used a 15-2 run to go ahead of the Tigers 32-18. Miami made its final nine attempts of the first half, forced Clemson into 11 early turnovers and led 38-24 at intermission. They continued to dominate in the third quarter, opening up a 22-point lead with 1:54 to go in the third quarter. But without Mompremier, UM was outrebounded 47-31. “They destroyed us in the paint, and that hurt us,” Meier said.
UM junior guard Mykea Gray had 16 points and six assists. Miami (11-8, 3-5 ACC) hits the road for a Sunday game at No. 13 Florida State. Clemson fell to 7-12, 2-4 ACC.